The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-11-26
Van Dyke Diamonds.

Van Dyke Diamonds.
| Howard Van Dyke and l spent last
summer in the Adirondacks hunting
and fishing and dancing until it is {
wonder we were not dead from excite
ment.
1t was at the hotel that we met Mrs.
Terry and her two charming nieces,
whom we promptly proceeded to fall in
love with. fell in love with Blanche
Terry and Howard with Lucy Rodney.
Blanche was the heiress, while Lucy
acted as her paid companion. I re.
member | was sitting in my room smok'
ing and cogitating over my own love
affair when Howard rushed in upon me
like wild Indian, his eyes sparkling
with excitement.
"What do you think 1 have done1''
he exclaimed.
81 can't imagine" I answered.
81 offered my hand to Lucy Rodney
and told her frankly that there wasn't
a thing in it but my heart, not red
cent nor a sixpence."
"But you have what your father left?''
ooh, that's mere bagatelle. Be-
sides | wanted to see how much she
really did love me, and, my dear boy,
the glorious creature actually said if 1
was satisfied she was. Did you ever hear
of such devotion?"
"And don'tregret your inheritance?"
"Not a whit! I've written home
and made clean breast of the whole
thing, dreaded it, of course, not the
losing the money, though 1 didn't like
to let that 60, but knew it would real
ly trouble poor mamma.
"And the family diamonds?''
"May go to the dogs, for all I care.
Lucy will look just as well to me without
them. Besides she is a diamond her.
self-a regular Koh-i-noor.'
With that he left me, and gave my
self up to sorrowful meditation. If
things had only been reversed !! If
Blanche Terry had only been in Lucy
Rodney's place and Lucy in Blanche's |!
Then the path would have been clear
and straight sase bsfore 5lag me- BIT
ment as bravely as possible.
A few days afterwards Imet Mrs. Van
Dyke and her mother as they arrived at
the hotel. They did not like the idea
at all of Howard's marrying a poor
girl and did not hesitate to tell me so.
81 was afraid she was not a desirable
wife for my son. Nothing but COM
panion. Oh, this is awful - and Mrs.
Van Dyke covered her face with her
handkerchief. --.....
The old lady sat bolt upright, and
the feather on her bonnet trembled
ominously.
"Never shall the family diamonds or
nament the plebeian neck ofa waitress at
an inn!" she said, savagely.
was SO amused that l could not cor
| rect their mistake. .eg.
"We have talked the matter over"
exclaimed Mrs. Van Dyke, "and moth
er and l have decided that it is just
about as we'll
"There's no we'll about it," fretted
| the madame; "the whole thing is a
shockingly ILL"
"We have your warm sympathy In
our crushing af1iction. Of that we are
sure, Mr.. Davis" and Howard's moth
er raised her handkerchief to her eyes
"We have concluded that it is best not
to oppose Howard. He is, you know,
our son, after all and-and even this
cannot destroy our affection for him.
We shall treat his wife civilly always !;
but we expected to give her the privi-
lagos nor"
"Nor the family diamonds" snapped
the old lady.
"We SHALL provide for them as befts
Howard's position," continued Mrs.
Van Dyke, serenely, "and never let the
world know our bitter, bitter, heart
rending disappointment. The Van
Dyke, blood is very proud-very proud,
Mr.. Davis"
That afternoon we were invited to tea
in the Terrys' private parlor. The
conversation turned on the diamonds
of wealthy Cuban lady, then stopping
at the hotel, and I said to Nine. Van
Dyke: "Do show them your fine dia-
monds, madame. The old-fashioned,
silver setting suits them so WE'LL"
"But l have had them reset" return
ed the old lady. "I did not care for
it, but my daughter persuaded me, and
they only came home the night before
we left town. l have hardly taken them
out of the case since," and, very much
gratifed by my request, she sent How
ard for them.
When he came back we all drew near
the jewel.case in eager expectancy
Madame opened the box, slowly, with
triumphant air; but, somehow, we
all looked rather blank, and the excla.
nation of admiration was very feeble.
"What is the matter with them 3"-
asked Howard "they look so dull"
handed one of the. bracelets to Miss
Rodney, and the old lady addressed
her, maliciously:
"What do you think of those, Miss
Rodney7 Are they not beautiful 2
Old family heirlooms, you know
Ours was very aristocratic family"
"They look to me like PASTE" said
Miss Rodney in low tone to Howard
"Paste p shrieked the Van Dyke
ladies. "Howard, do you hear that
The Van Dyke family diamonds paste ]!
"By Jove! l think she is right,
said Howard. ''Who set these dia
monds, mothersa"
"The work was done at Goldplate's
The chief workman there is man o
great taste"
"I judge so,'' replied Howar'
quietly, 'since he has evidently takel
tha family diamonds and reDlaced then